Necticut



Nov. 4 1924. 1,514.458

W.- H. HARRlNGTQN ELECTRIC SWITCH Flecx Nov. '7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 TTQRNE YS w. H. HARRINGTON Nov.` 4

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filecx Nov. 7, 192? 2 Shoots-Shoot E XNVENTOR WIL 14m fr. HRR/NG TON Patterned Nov. 4, 1924i,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. HARRINGTON, QF -T CQENECTGUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HEJTFOR'),

`NECTICUT.

CNNEGTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CON-- ELECTRC SFTCH.

Application led November 7, 19253.

To all wlw-m @7; muy concern:

Re it kn own that l, Wimmer H. EARRING- 'roN. a cit len ci the United States oC America, idinny at lflart'liord, 'in the county ot Hartford anfgl'f'ltatc of Connecticut, have invented certain new and "useful Improvements in Electric Switches, ot which the lollowinp,` is a specification.

My invention relates to .electric switches, and particularly to a switch of the tinsh type. The object ot my invention is to provide a mechanism ot such construction that it may he arranged in a very shallow insulatinel base, and, secondly, that it may he operated by any one oit several dil'li'erent types oi actuating; devices.

Various improvements in detail ot construction will be set 'forth at greater length in the following; spccilication, or shown in the accompanvinnY drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged, scale, through a push button switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 tl 1 ro u gh Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. l is an exploded view ot'the switch mechanism and trame;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section illustrating the operation ot the switch by means of a lever; and

Fig', (l is a similar view illustrating its operation by means of u ley.

ln various installations it is desirable to cini'iloy a switch ot such construction that it may be mounted in a shallow outlet box, or within moldingI such as is commonly used in ollice buildinp's, factories, etc. lt is quite essentia iti-om a practical standpoint, turtherimire, that the depth oi the switch hotly be s. li with r ect `to the depth of the outlet b or etpguvalent structure, that lead wires may he passed beneath the insulating` body oi the switch trono one end ot the box to the other. Considerable clearance between the bottom oil the boi( and the bottom ot the switch body must accordingly be at- -torded. lt is also desirable to provide a switch mechanism ot such character that it may be utilized interchangesbly with several di Herent types or actuating' means, such as push buttons, levers, and vteys, to meet the preference of the architect, or the cusJ is a horizontal section there Serial No. 599,499.

tomer, tor one or the other of these types. The present invention provides a switch wliich meets these requirements.

ln Figs. 1 to l incl.. ive, I have illustrated the invention in a switch of the push button type, while in' Fin'. 5 the operation of the mechanism by means of a rocking lever is indicated, and in Fig. 6 its operation by means ot a hey is shown.

While the construction and arrangement oi the parts is subject to considerable variation, that shown is a practical and workmanlike structure which has proved efficient in service.

As illustrated, the body ot' the switch comprises a shallow cup-shaped member 15 of insulating' material, such as porcelain, the over-all depth of which, in. the commercial device, is approximately one inch. Its chamber 16 houses the switch contacts and the toggle mechanism. l have shown a single pole switch having` two contacts 17 and 18, but it will be recognized by any one skilledA in lthe art that the invention may be applied to a threeor toin-point switch without the exercise ot' more than ordinary skill in accordance with standard practices.` Both conta cts are integral with offset plates 19 and 2O which overlie depressed ledges 21 and 22 where they are secured by screws 23 piercing' the base. The plates also carry binding screws 24- and 25, by which lead wires may he connected.

ldlithin the switch chamber 16, and rising from the 'licor ther-coli at opposite ends of the chamber, are formed shoulders 26 and 27 pierced at 28 vto receive screw bolts 29 by which. the frame ot the switch mecha nism secured in position. The trame is preferably struck 'from sheet metal and comprises a pair oit end webs 30 and 31 tapped at 32 to receive the holding` screws 29, and

unitel by the arch-like side plates 33-34,

the legs olf which are integral with and oil2- hearing lngs 4l are struck from the lower derstood hy those skilled ii l margins of the crown of the arch end ontposition shown in Fig.. l thews'` 'i werdly oiisettherefrom. n ciroert-elosing;` position, Upon the de lilonnted on the hearing l 452s lil the sion of the "outl posh hutten {l} the i yol-:e 42 which. Carries the switci ha' yFor a single pole switch of the type f-.howny the leg le? of the yoke niny he of hooi shane to afford en open herring notch which may he ireely engaged with one of the heer-v ing` lugs 4l of the franie which the yoke streddles. The other hearing for 'the yole is fornied iiA fil-shaped hreelet 46, the head of which is slotte-t et 47 hut provid d wh e cross her i8 which rests npon the otherx lug all of the freine in the asseinhled position ofthe yolre. The nrins et@ of the are shouldered l l zine. the redneet through one leg; the .ine respect t t3 is engaged and rien. ly offset ends of the hrnmet lef; is also pierced et to receive the lun; W s the heed of the pin te upon which is the toggle operating serine' 531, the opi' end of which thrusts n@ st the lsenring plete 536. Through the hele in the latter the oppositie end of the spiziirnv guide pin freely passes. The h e' plate is provided with opposite ontv .Jdly projectinn rounded thrust lugs 58.

These thrust lugs 58 engage in hearing` notches 59 et the inner end of the side flanges 60 of the rocker., which :ire also pierced in register at (3l. to receive the hearing` pin 62. The letter passes threiegh the holes 4:0 in the side plates end Sr ofi the freine, on which the rocler is thus pivoted. rihe side 'flanges 60 of the rocher conneoted together by integral cross here G3 and Glon opposite sides of its exis of oseillation7 and frein these wehe extend1 in opposite directions, peirs dowiwerdlr crewed hearing lingers end Gti., resnecti `When the switch mechanism loperated hy push buttons, the letter iney he of the type illustrated comprising` insulating' heads 57" each having; secured thereto1 i -fl nrefei'ahhT embedded therein, one end of a 'Het shark 657 rlhese shenlrs nre adapted to he passed through and freely guided in one or the other of the holes 37 and 2l@ in the end webs 30 and 3l of the freine. liaterel notches 69 in opposite edges of the shenl; ere of sufficient extent to permit the shnnlt to he freely passed hetu en the leer-ing linpjers 65 'or Gti of the rocher which are thus freely and detsel'iahly engaged with the shanlrsj While the rocher and push buttons are const-rained to move together, ln order to guide the push buttons end insure their rectilinear motion, they are guided in nner-y tures 70 in the switch-carrying yoke 7l. through which they pass.

rll'he opere ion of the switch is readily iin-- operatiyely engaged by the r lelie across t s Lll on which the swi oscilletes, the spring;` eterts its hiasini in opposite direction and een' f, har to more with snep action to the 'iosition of the switch, .lhe ai tl of the switch bar 1s hnnted hy tne in greniont of the yoke against the downs .rdlr' off-set lugs end 86 of the which heer against shoi'zlders the insulating hot y of the casing. throw of the rocker is also limited by the inipingeinent of the downwardly offset ends of the fn fers and GG tifreinst the w 3G end 3l of the which also i )n these shoulders. lt is thns clear that the shoclzs of ii'npecL ere teken hy the body of the casing` at e point at which rugged, and that the switch freine it substantially relieved from 'the pw: iinpaet incident to the snep switch. lt will he clear, f l a lone' thronY of 'the switch het' is u practically the entire depth of the s chandler, and that a wide breek l we switch har and the contacts attainen ennhling the switch to handle rele.. heavy nrrent Without stinger of ieiliufe.

rectilinear guide-.nee of the )ugh t is n feature of coininerciel the buttons are maintained in e and .no sloppy movement i"f l frs eheif'e fitateth the nechaniszn lends iself to operation hy other ineans tht push znttons (W. Thus, vin lilivgf. fi l, lave shown the rocher osoillated by menne of a, lever lf3 which nniy he seemed nnon the l 7 in the ninnner indicated in the copendinl application hilo, 539,271. til

Fehr ieiy 2l 1922, tit the inner end or t lever are hearing' l s f-'ianh 75 so positioned that they res and rmeiatifelf.

'Y the yolie t upon enggage the wehe G3 and tt of the rocher on opposite sides of its exis of oscillation. seqnently, upon the `oscillntion of the lever 72, one or the other of the lees l ig nets upon the rocler to canse it to '.:iscilhiten end thus to operette the switch inecrnisin in the seine fashion es that ahoye described in connection with the push hutten devices lf it he desired to operate the switch hy ineens of a kein this nitty he esdily eccomplished as indica-ted in (3. rtnproprinte hey-ways 76 are provided the fece plete "F7, end else in the yoke 78, these Wen t] on i ,rimase t?.

being located above the lingers (Si) and et) respectively of the rocher. lt is obvious that upon the insertion of the lrey if.) through the proper lreyway, its inner end bears against the upper end of the roelrer and forces it downward, thus operating the switch niechanism in the fashion above described. y

To enable the mechanisn'i to he used with any one of the three types of operating devices, it is merely necessary therefore to change the supporting; yoke and the face plate to conform to the type of operating device desred. The switch mechanism remains the saine in all. cases. The economy to the manufacturer or jobbcr is obvious.

As above stated, the construction is such that the mechanism may be mounted in an extremely shallow insulating body. it commercial switch which will amply take care of and safely break a standard lighting circuit may be arranged in a cup that is only one inch deep over all, thus permitting` the switch to be mounted in an outlet box which is one and one-half inch deep. Ample clearance beneath the switch is thus afforded for the lead wires which are carried through beneath the switch from one end of the boi; to the other. The strolre of the push but-- tons, when used, is but` one-quarter inch, and they are guided as above stated so that they are always at right angle to the face plate of the switch. The structural parts are all rugged and are readily manufactured and assembled.

Promising' that the foreicfgoing` specilication and the dravings set forth only a specific illustrative embodiment of my invention, which may be variously modified, l claiml.. ln a toggle switch mechanism, an oscillating' switch member, an oscillati rock lever, a switch spring;l operatively interifiosed between said rock lever and switch n'ieinbcr, and shiftable at one end by the rock lever from one side to the other side of the axis of oscillation of the switch member, said roel: lever beine' shaped for interchangeable operating;` slidable engiarrement by actuating niemliers of different types.

2. ln a toggle switch mechanism, an oscillatinev switch men'iber, an oscillating' rock lever, a switch si'iring; operatively interposed between said roclr lever and switch member, and sliiftable at one end by the rock lever from one side to the other side of the axis of oscillation of the switch member, said rock lever being,` shaped on opposite sides of its rocking' axis for interchangeable operating; engagement by actuating members of different types.

$3. In a toggle switch mechanism, an oscillatino,` switch member, an oscillating; rock lever, switch spring operatively interposed between said rock lever and switch member, and shiftable at one end by the rock lever erent points` 'e sices of its roclii'igg; i ne for iiin 1e fnieiatirq engage ,ient bj.' ai.'- mem )ers of dirlerent types.

a toggle switch mechanism, an osswitca n'iember, an oscil inn' roel: lever, a switch spring operatively interposed between said'roclr lever and switch memlfier, :i ,id shi...table at one end by the rock lever from one side to the other side of the axis of oscillation of the switch nien'iber, said reclr lever beine' shai'ied for inter'changeable operating slidable engagen'ient by actuating nieinl'iers of different types.

ln. a too'gle switch mechanism, an oscillatinpj switch n'ieinber, an oscillating roclr lever.. a switch spring operatively interposed between said rock lever and switch member, and shiftable at one end by the roelr lever from one de to the other side of the axis of oscillation of the switch meniber, in coniliination with a pivoted actuating lever having means adapted for sliding` operative engagement withv the roclr. lever on o} n}ositc sides of the latters axis.

(. ln a toggle switch n'iechanisin, an oscilloting' switch member, an oscillating; roclr lever, a switch spring operatively interposed between said rock lever and switch member, and shiftable at one end by the rock lever from one side to the other side of the axis of oscillation of the switch member, in combination with a pivoted actuating lever having; legs straddling the axis of the rock lever and adapted for sliding operativi-i engr gement with the roclr lever.

7. ln a toggle switch mechanisnii, a roch lover having;v on opposite sides of its axis longitudinally slotted bearing' arms adapted for sliding); engagement with either the lens of an actuatiiig' lever or the shanlrs of push buttons.

8. ln a. togg'irle switch n'ieclninisin, a rock lever having a lne' extending; in a direction snbstan'tially at right angles to the rocking axis, and bearing` surfaces on opposite sides of said evtendin5i` in a direction sub stantially at right angles to said lng, said bearing; surfaces being shaped to afford slidingv engagement with cooperating actu atingr devices of different types.

9. ln a toggle switch mechanism. a roellever having,v a lue` extending; in e direction substantia. y at right angles to the rocking artis, and bearing' surfaces on opposite sides of said axis extending in a direction substantially at right angles to said lung, said bearing surfaces having;` offset portions in extension thereof to form ps limiting` the throw of the lever.

l0. ln a toggle switch mechanism, rock lever having a pair of spaced legs united on opposite sides of its rocking axis by solid webs affording bearing surfaces' lor sliding engagement va'ith a rocl-z lerer, said webs be- M extended in opposite directions by ci spaced lingers, each pan ol" lingers being adapted to receive between said D the shanl; of an actuating push button.

ll. in an electric switch, a roclr l an o, cillating' switch member, spaced abutinents having opposed between wl cli the switch member rocks, and by which its throw is limited, said abutments having' taces lying at an angle to said opposed :laces and engaged by the roel lever to limit its throw.

l2. ln an electric switch, an insulating' base olf cup shape, integral shoulders rising` trom the bottom oit the cup at the opposite ends ot the chamber atforded thereby, a switch member oscillating between said shoulders and having' its throw limited thereby, and a rock lever, the ends ot' which overlie said shoulders and img/ginge against the upper faces thereoic to limit its throw.

13. ln an electric switch, an insulating' base of cup shape, integral shoulders risingl trom the bottom ot the cup at the opposite ends oit the chamber aiiiorded thereby, switch traine having end webs resting on said shoulders and otlset elements lying' against the opposed faces ot said shoulders.

lll. In an electric switch, an insulating; base oi cup shape, integral shoulders rising from the bottom oi the cup at the opposite ends ot the chamber afforded thereby, a switch frame having' end webs resting on said shoulders and offset elements lying; against the opposed faces ot said shoulders, together with a switch member pivoted on the trame and oscillating between said shoulders and iinping'ing' against said offset portions ot the trame to limit its throw.

l5. In an electric switch, a cup-shaped insulating' body having integral shoulders rising lrom the bottom oi" the cup at the opposite ends ot the chamber afforded thereby, a switch iframe having' webs resting' on said shoulders, a rocken pivoted. oin the Vtrame and having' a throw limited by impingzfcment against said webs.

16. lln an electric switch, a cup-shaped insulating); body having' integral shoulders risin.;y 'trom the bottom ot the cup at the opposite ends ot the chamber' ali'orded thereby, al switch :trame having` webs resting on said shoulders, a rocker pivoted on the traine and having' a throw limited by impingement against said web, together with actuating` means having a sliding' engagement with said rocker on opposite sides of its rocking axis.

17. ln an electric switch, a cup-shaped insulating` body having integral shoulders rising from the bottom of the cup at the opposite ends of the chamber afforded therelere teintes by, a switch 'trarne havingV webs said shoulders, a rocher pivoted on tl i. (ifi and havin;y its onds otiset to 'form st ping'ngi; against said webs to limit thot the rocker, l together with means haring a sliding` eng said rocher 7U ends.n but on opposite sides oil' its rc axis.

18. ln au electric switch, a cup-shaped insulating body hating1 integral shoulders rising` trom the bottom ot the cup at the opposite ends ot the chamber accorded hereliy.

a switch trame having webs resting d shoulders, said webs and shoulders beine' recessed to accommodate an actu n mber.

i9, ln an electric switch, a cup-shaped insulating body having' integral shoulder rising' trom the bottom of the cup at the opposite encs of the chamber afforded thereby, i'. switch frame having; webs resting on said shoulders, upstandinii side plates extending); between and integral with said end webs. downwardly @Attending1 members ollset *from said webs, a switch member pivoted on said side plates and having' an arc ol oscillation limited by said downwardly etrtendinp; members, and a rocker pivotally supported on said side plates and havingl its throw limited by said webs.

20. ln an electric switch, a` toggle mechanism comprising a rocker having' spaced side 'flanges united by cross webs. said flanges having` portions upstanding above said cross webs and by which said rocker is pivotally supported, the portions ot said flanges below said webs being); shaped Yfor operating connection with an associated switch element.

2l. ln an electric switch, a toggle mechanism comprising' a rocker having; spaced side flanges united by cross webs, said flanges having,` portions upstanding above and between said cross webs and by which said rocker is pivotally supported, the portions ot said 'flanges below said webs beingA shaped tor operating connection with an associated switch element 22. ln an electric switch, a toggle mechanism comprising; a rocker haifinp; spaced side 'llanpges united by cross webs, said flanges having` portions upstanding above said cross webs and by which said roclrer is pivotally supported, the portions ot said 'flanges below said webs being shaped tor operating connection with an associated switch element, said webs having oppositely extending portions adapted for sliding' engagement by rocker actuating` means.

ln testimony whereoic l have signed name to this specication.

VVlLLli-lh/l l-l. HABRNGETUNQ 

